The Jamaat-e-Islami on Friday called off its month-long sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly after reaching an agreement with the provincial government to amend the local government law, Aaj News reported.

A Sindh government delegation comprising Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab reached the sit-in site late Thursday night to come to an agreement.

“Today, we have also taken back our calls to have a sit-in on streets, whereas the main protest [the Sindh Assembly] has also been called off,” JI leader Naeemur Rehman said in his address.

The JI leader said that the negotiations were held in a “good environment” and a draft of the agreement was also made.

He also shared the update on Twitter.

LG Minister Nasir Shah read out the main points of the agreement.

“There has been a written agreement between the Sindh government and the JI. The Sindh government will bring amendments to the Local Government Act of 2013,” he said.

Compromise

Under the pact, he said that institutions related to health and education would be returned to the local bodies. “The Karachi mayor will be the chairman of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, besides heading the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board,” he said, adding that the provincial government would monthly and yearly allocate funds to the Union Councils on the basis of population.

In addition to this, the mayor and deputy mayor would also be given authority in the Sindh Building and Control Authority and other development authorities.

Moreover, Nasir said that notifications would be issued in one to two weeks on the required matters. The Provincial Finance Commission would be awarded after the local government officials take charge of their duties, he added.

“The amount received from the Motor Vehicle Tax would be paid as per its share. The Sindh government will extend full support to the metropolitan government to make the Karachi Medical and Dental College a university,” it read.

Nasir also took to Twitter to share the development and said the party would work with all stakeholders for the province's development.

JI leader Sirajul Haq also lauded the party on reaching the agreement.

Amidst this, PTI leader Ali Zaidi in a series of tweets slammed the government for "looting the money" and introducing such laws in the LG Act that are "against the spirit" of the Constitution.

The Sindh Assembly on December 11 approved the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2021 amid clamour from the Opposition benches to reject the bill. The bill, which was moved by Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, was moved for the second time by the Sindh government.

Planning Minister Asad Umar had termed such tweaks are "dangerous for Pakistan" and vowed to raise voice against it in the lower house of parliament.